KATHUA: A Team of Kathua Forest Range and FPF Gamma Unit seized a truck loaded with illicit firewood from Nagri area during late night naka checking.

As per DFO Kathua, during the intervening night of 25th and 26th April at about 11:30 PM, a joint naka laid by officials of Kathua Forest Range and FPF Gamma Unit Kathua with active cooperation of J&K Police Post Nagri, intercepted a Truck bearing Registration No. JK08D/8445. On its checking, the Vehicle was found loaded with illicit green mixed B/L firewood/logs of species Kambel, Kikar, Dhaman, plash etc weighing around 50 Qtls.

On questioning the driver/occupant of the truck Krishan Lal of village Mela Tehsil Hiranagar failed to produce any valid documents regarding the ownership as well as the transportation permission of the forest produce loaded in the truck.

Consequently, the truck along with forest produce was seized on the spot by forest team under section 52 of Indian Forest Act, 1927. However, the driver managed to escape. A case under section 41, 42, 69 and 69A R/W section 4(a, b) of Indian Forest Act, 1927 (amended upto 2020 for J and K) was registered by Range Office Kathua in the court of Authorised Officer Kathua (DFO Kathua).

The operation was carried under the direct supervision of Range Forest Officer Kathua Narinder Verma and overall supervision of Divisional Forest Officer Kathua Dr. Rajan Singh.